India | Tigers and Beyond with Bandhavgarh National Park

Today you will depart from the US for your flight to Delhi.

Arrive at the international airport in Delhi, clear customs and immigration, and meet your representative and transfer to the hotel. Check in at the hotel starts at 2:00 pm. Continuously inhabited since the 6th century BCE, Delhi has been the capital of kingdoms and empires, and today is a sprawling metropolis that encompasses this fascinating blend of past and present. It is a perfect introduction to the composite culture of this ancient land.

After breakfast, be transported back in time to the grandeur and eventual ruin of the Mughal Empire, which ruled from the 16th century to the mid-19th century. Visit Jama Masjid, India's second largest mosque, and admire its tapering minarets and marble domes. Stroll through streets and markets where royalty once roamed, savor the fragrances of boisterous spice markets, be dazzled by India's largest jewelry markets, and glimpse the once glorious havelis (royal mansions) of Old Delhi. Alternating between walking and rickshaw rides, we'll discover hidden gems as we explore the narrow alleys and 350 year-old markets of this city built at the pinnacle of the Mughal period. After lunch, visit New Delhi area and Humanyu Tomb.

After breakfast we will be transferred to the airport for our flight to Jabalpur. Upon arrival in Jabalpur we'll continue our journey with a drive to Bandhavgarh (3 hour drive). Set amongst the Vindhya Hills in Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh National Park consists of 168 sq. miles of Sal & a mixed forest consisting of bamboo, grassland, and a complex of deciduous trees. There are at least 150 species of birds in the park, along with other mammals such as Tigers, Sloth Bear, Langur Monkeys, Wild Boar, Mongoose, and 3 Kinds Of Deer - Chital, Sambar and Barking, to name a few.

Bandhavgarh has been the backdrop of numerous wildlife documentaries where legendary Tigresses have raised over 20 cubs to adulthood. Sita was one of these star tigresses. Bandhavgarh boasts one of the highest densities of Tigers anywhere in the world, in a beautiful setting which are set amongst Vindhya Hills. Upon arrival in Bandhavgarh, check in to Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge, and since we have had a travel day, we will take it easy this evening and whoever wishes to go on a nature walk, will be accompanied for a naturalist.

Early morning wake-up call with a knock on your room door and coffee or tea. Enjoy misty mornings and sounds of birds calling, which will make an exciting start to your day. As soon as dawn breaks, leave for your Jungle Safari, accompanied by a resident naturalist and forest park guides in 4x 4 Jeeps. In the winter months morning safaris require warm clothes and woolen caps and gloves to keep you warm from the wind chill factor in your open jeep. We provide blankets and sometimes even a hot water bottle to keep you comfortable. Enjoy 2 days of morning and afternoon safaris.

(See previous day).

After our morning safari and breakfast, we will drive to Kanha (6 hours). Kanha National Park, located on the Chhota Nagpur Plateau in Madhya Pradesh, is under the purview of Project Tiger and provides breathtaking vistas of grassy plains and strands of mixed sal/teak forests. This 366-square-mile preserve was planned to save two endangered species, the Bengal tiger and the Barasingha deer. This evening, watch the award-winning Discovery Channel documentary, "Tigerland," which focuses in part on Kailash Sankhala, the founder of Project Tiger. Sankhala's grandchildren run and manage Kanha Jungle Lodge, your accommodation for the next three nights. Spend the evening getting to know this family whose heritage in tiger conservation dates back three generations.

Today we'll embark on early morning and afternoon visits to Kanha National Park in a 4x4 Jeep with an English-speaking naturalist. You will have an opportunity to see wild dogs (more commonly known as dhol), chital (spotted deer), gaur (Indian bison), munjak (barking deer), sambhar (deer), leopard, and sloth bear. Kanha is also the only place in the world where you can spot Barasingha deer in the wild, thanks to the successful conservation program that virtually saved them from the brink of extinction. Enjoy a picnic breakfast in the middle of the jungle with a cup of hot tea or coffee, and later lunch at the lodge. In the winter months, warm clothes, woolen caps, and gloves are needed for morning safaris in the open 4x4. Blankets are provided for extra comfort and protection.

Continue with morning and afternoon wildlife drives in Kanha National Park in a 4x4 Jeep with an English-speaking naturalist.

This morning, wildlife safari in Kanha and then transfer to Pench (4-5 hour drive). Pench National Park is located on the southern boundary of Madhya Pradesh, nestled in the lower southern reaches of the Satpura Mountain Range. The Satpura-Maikal region consists of seven tiger reserves and five corridors stretching through three states (Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh) in central India. The area is one of the country's strongholds of wildlife protection and natural resource-based livelihoods. Within this large region sits the Kanha-Pench landscape, which includes Kanha-Pench Tiger Reserves and the forested land between them in Mandla, Balaghat and Seoni districts in Madhya Pradesh.

The Kanha-Pench landscape has been the focus of extensive and diverse research conducted in the region, as well as active government support to establish the region as a wildlife corridor, making it an ideal case-study for other areas in the Satpura Maikal region and throughout India.

It also provides important ecosystem services through its hydrology (e.g. part of the area is a watershed for River Narmada) and biodiversity (e.g. the parks support endangered and vulnerable species such as tiger and hard-ground barasingha). A diversity of human communities utilize the forests in the area with varying intensity, ranging from minimal forest extraction in reserves to rapid road, agriculture and mining development outside protected areas. The area requires active research and management to ensure sustainable livelihoods for people and protection of the wildlife alike, and offers an ideal case study of the complex environmental and social issues facing the Satpura-Maikal region, and India at large. Upon arrival check-in to Jamatara Wilderness Camp.

As soon as dawn breaks, set out on a morning jungle safari through Pench National Park, accompanied by a resident naturalist and forest park guide in 4x4 Jeeps. After lunch, return to the 4x4 Jeeps with your naturalist and guide to go on an afternoon jungle safari and continue the search for target species. Named for the Pench River, which meanders through the park from north to south, Pench covers 295 square miles. Notably, the present-day Pench Tiger Reserve and its surroundings are the original setting for Rudyard Kipling's famous work, "The Jungle Book." The undulating topography supports a range of vegetation, from moist, sheltered valleys to open, dry deciduous forest. Over 1,200 plant species have been recorded here, including several rare and endangered plants and plants of ethno-botanical importance. The area is also rich in wildlife; the high habitat heterogeneity favors large populations of chital and sambar. In fact, Pench Tiger Reserve has the highest density of herbivores in India.

Continue your exploration of Pench National Park with morning and afternoon game drives.

This morning wildlife safari in Pench and then drive to Satpura National Park, located in south Hoshangabad district in Madhya Pradesh. The 820-square-mile park is the core area of the Panchmarhi Biosphere Reserve, and has an elevation of 1,050 to 4,350 feet, with tall sandstone mountains, narrow gorges, ravines, waterfalls, streams, and dense forests. The area boasts two distinctive species of trees, the sal and the teak, as well as many varieties of ferns, mango trees, butterflies, and birds.

Today spend the day exploring Satpura National Park by 4x4 Jeep with an English-speaking naturalist. You will also have the opportunity to explore the park beyond the safari vehicle - on foot and by boat. Satpura is the only tiger reserve that permits walking safaris in small groups (four, plus the guide) through the heart of the park and encourages a wide variety of activities that give visitors a much deeper insight into tiger country than is possible only by Jeep. Park management as well as Forsyth Lodge are involved with training local boys as naturalist guides to provide surrounding communities with access to skilled work, on the core belief that every well-trained guide is one less potential poacher.

Continue with morning and afternoon exploration in Satpura National Park by 4x4 Jeep and on foot or by boat with an English speaking naturalist.

After breakfast and a leisurely morning at the hotel, we will drive to Bhopal airport (3 hrs.) for our afternoon flight to Delhi. Upon arrival, we'll be met and assisted with our check-in at the hotel. This evening, check-in on own for an early morning departure (next day). Lunch and dinner are on own today.

After breakfast transfer to Agra. On arrival, our representative will meet you and check in at hotel. Agra - Badal Singh established the city of Taj in 1475 AD. Agra finds mention in the Mahabharat as Agraban. Sikandar Lodi made Agra his capital but Babur defeated the Lodis to capture not only Agra but also laid the foundation of the Mughal Empire. In the mid-16th century and earlier 17th century AD, Agra witnessed a frenzied building activity and it was during this time when the symbol of love Taj Mahal was built. Sunset visit to Mehtab Bagh. Mehtab Bagh, (Moonlight Garden) is a charbagh complex in Agra, North India. It lies north of the Taj Mahal complex and the Agra Fort on the opposite side of the Yamuna River, in the flood plains. The garden complex, square in shape, measures about 300 by 300 meters (980 ft. × 980 ft.) and is perfectly aligned with the Taj Mahal on the opposite bank. Mehtab Bagh garden was the last of eleven Mughal-built gardens along the Yamuna opposite the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort; the first being Ram Bagh. It is mentioned that this garden was built by Emperor Babur. It is also noted that Emperor Shah Jahan had identified a site from the crescent-shaped, grass-covered floodplain across the Yamuna River as an ideal location for viewing the Taj Mahal. Lunch dinner on own today.

Rise early for morning coffee and prepare for a truly spectacular sight, the legendary Taj Mahal at daybreak. It is often said that Taj Mahal changes its colors by every minute depending upon angle of sunrays and it is best seen either by sunset or sunrise. Sunrise however is best timing for taking pictures of this monument under mild sun light. Taj Mahal- Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder, which is always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist's visit to Agra. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen. Return to the hotel for breakfast and Checkout. Afterwards, visit Agra Fort. Agra Fort, a massive structure with 70-foot high, 1.5-mile long walls encompassing an astounding collection of well-preserved buildings, many of them completed during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. The most unusual story about the Taj is that there might have been two of them. The emperor intended to build a second tomb in black marble, a negative image of the white Taj for Mumtaz. Tragically, before he could begin, he was deposed by his son and imprisoned in the Agra Fort where he remained until his death, spending the rest of his life looking out along the river to the final resting-place of his wife. After visiting the fort, drive back to Delhi. Arrive Delhi and check in at hotel. Lunch and dinner on own.

Transfer to the Delhi International Airport for your flight(s) home. Check is out is at 12 pm.